Ditching-machine.



NO- 828,831. I PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906. C. J. VAN BURE'N.

HING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED D3012, 190a; RENEWED JAN.19, 190s.

DITG

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1 r 1 I A la/1W PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906.

IO. J. VAN BUREN. DITOHIN G' MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1903. RENEWED JAH.19. 1906.

7 SHEETSSHEET 2 5-] woe, "to:

:0. J. VAN BURB N. V DITGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.2, 1903. RENEWED JAN.19, 1906.

v SHEETS-SHEET s.

PATENTED AUG. 14, 19 6;

Witnesses No- 828,881. PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906."

0. J. VAN BURBN. DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG.2, 1903. RENEWED JAN.19. 1906.

7 HEETSSHEET 4.

PATBNTED AUG. 14, 1906.

El VAN BUREN.

DITGHING momma. v APPLICATION PILIED DEO.2,1903. RENEWED JAN.19.1906.

7 SHEETSSHEET 5.

PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906;

J. VAN RUBEN. DIT OHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 13110.2,1903. RENEWED JAN. 19, 1906.

MNU

Suva/ado"; "0

lzmmw PATBNTED AUG. 14, 1906.

0. J. VAN BUREN.

DITGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC.2,1903. RENEWED JAN.19,1906.

7 SHEETS-SHBBT 7.

- the ditching\\'heel.

UNITED STATES FATF OFFIOF.

CHARLES JACKSON VAN. BUREN, OF FINDLAY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE VAN BUREN, HECK & MARVIN 00., OF FINDLAY, OHIO.

DlTCHlNG-MAGHINE.

To ail Z whom, it mu 1/ concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J ACKSONVAN BUR-EN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Findlay, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invencompact and easily-operated ditching-machine for com letin a continuous ditch with a perfect gra e at too bottom for the recep-' tion of the ordinary drain-tiles. I

Further ob ects of mv invention are to provide means whereby the sides of the ditch may be made sloping,.if desired, and whereby the machine may be conveniently moved from lace to place, at the. same time digging a dit-c of an desired lengthor width.

With'these objects in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed:

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side' view of my complete ditching-machine. Fig. .2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a side view of the operating-wheel and some of the related parts." Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the ditching-wheel on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the conical side attachments to Fig. 6 is a top iew of the same with the plates removed. Fig. 7 is a perspei-t-ive view of one of the-plates. Fig. 8 1s a side \IGW of the convover-apron. Fig.

9 is a top. planview showing the means foroperating the )I]\TYNEELPIOH and the supports therefor, the apron itself being removed. Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the end guiding-roller. Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 show details of the construction of the endless dirt carrier or eonvever. Fig. 15 is a top plan view showing detailsoi the guiding-beams used in raisingnnd loweriag the. ditchingwheel.

1 designates the engine-frame, which is supported on the front axle l and rear axle 3.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 2, 1963. Renewed January 19, 1906. Serial'No. 296.825.

the machine.

Patented Aug. 14, 1906.

i The front axle 2 is pivotally connect-ed to the frame near its front end, so that the machine may be steered in the proper direction. On the front axle 2 are mounted the wheels 4, and on the rear axle 3 are loosely mounted the wide traction-wheels 5, which are provided with calks 6 to prevent slipping.

To guide the machine, the front axle 2 has. attached to it two-chains 7, wound in oppo site directions upon the axle 8. This axle carries at one end the worm-wheel 9, whichengagesthe worm 10, which is operated by the hand-wheel 11, located near the-rear of In front of the boiler12 a platform 13 is built, 'and said boiler is proe vided with a suitable fire-box 14.

Behind the boiler 12 on the main frame 1 is supported a suitable intermediate bed-frame 15, on which ismountedanordinary engine 16, which is supplied with steam from the boiler-12. Areversing-lever 18 is also provided, so that the machine may be moved back or forth as desired The piston 01 the engine is connected with the main driving-shaft- 19, mounted in bearings in the frame 1 and the bed frame 15. On

the'shaft 19 is slidably but Otherwise. fixedly mounted an adjustable piniohQO, provided on one side with aclut-ch-huh 21. This pinion may be held in any desired position u )on the shaft 19 bythe set-screw 22. The hub of the )inion 20 is adapted to be moved when desirer into engagement with the corresponding clutch-hub 23, which projects from one side of a small sprocket-wheel 24, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 19.

When the machine is to be propelled from point to oint, the parts are arranged, as

shown in ig.-2, with the pinion 20 engaging a large gear-wheel 25, which is mounted on a short counter-shaft 26. This shaft .26 is journaled' in hearings on the frames 1 and 15, andsaid shaft carries'upon its outer end outside the frame 1 a gear-whcel 27, over which passes a sprocket-chain 28, which ehain also passes over the sprocket-wheel 29, mounted on the axle 3.

The operating parts propel the machine forward or backward, as desired, by means of y the ratchet-and-dog connections shown in the patent to J. B. Hill, No. 523,790, dated July 31, 1894.

Near the rear end of the frame 1. iliiiH'llNl thereto and projecting upwardly jhe'rel'rom,

. are a pair of beams 35, each of which is prof part, which rear part is of course providedwith a back plate.

vided with. a slot on its inner face. Braces 51, connected to the top of these beams and to the sides of the main frame, respectively, serve to stiffen the structure. These upright beams support the inner ends of the hor1zcn-.

tal I-beams 36,. The outer ends of these I: beams are supported by ropes 38, which pass over pulleys 39, mounted on the top of the raised and lowered by a 'si beams 35, and these ropes pass over shafts 40, mounted-on extensions of the mairi frame 1, which shafts 40 may be turned by the hand-wheels 41 for the purpose of raising or lowering the outer ends of the I-beams 36.'

An ordinary pa\\'l-and-ratchet device-42is used to hold the shafts 40 in their adjusted position. I

The two I-beams 36 are connected' near their front and rear ends andforman open rectangular frame, in which is supported the main ditching-wheel by means hereinafter described. The inner ends of these I-beams are provided with extensions which slide in and are guided by' slots on the inside of the beams 35. It is obvious that by rotating the shafts 40 the outer ends of the beams 36 may be raised or lowered, and the inner beams are milar means, which will now be described.

Oh the front of the beams 35, and near the wheel 44,which meshes witha small gear-Wheel 46,. mounted on a stub-shaft 45, which-is attached to the front of one of the beams 35.

The shaft 45 carries a gear-wheel 47, over which passes a sprocket-chain 48. This chain 48 also passes over a pinion 49, mounted on-a stub-shaft 50, attached to one of the sidesof the frame I. 'on this shaft and serves for the pur ose of moving the pinion 49, and thereby justing the inner ends of the beams 36.up or down,

as may be desired. v

A pawl-and-ratchet device (not shown) is used on the shaft 50 to hold it in any desired osition. A platform 53 is attached by races 54 to one of the sides of the framelnear the wheel 52, so that the operator may stand thereon to operate the wheels52 and 1 1 and also the reversing-lever 18.

Between the I-bcams 36 is supported the excavating-wheel 55, which is annular in shape-and whichrevolves between the I- beams 36, by which it is supported. This wheel consists of two parallel rims 56 and 57,

. which are spaced apart from each othenand held in their proper relation to each other by,

means of braces and also by the bucket-s58. These buckets are shown as made m. two parts, afront cutting part and a rear carrying A hand-wheel 52 is mounted.

These buckets are'located around the entire circumference of the excavating-wheel. In front of .each bucket, which is curved, as shown, are two cutters 59, which project out beyond the buckets and over the ear-teeth carried by the rims 56 and 57, so t at said gear-teeth will not be: come clogged by the dirt in the sides of the ditch. These also serve to loosen the dirt, so that. it may be easily scooped up by the buckets.

The rims 56 and57 serve as a track for the reception of the guiding-rollers 60', 61, and 62. A fourth guiding-roller, similar to the guiding-roller 60 is used, but is not shown on the drawings, as it is located behind one of the operating gear-wheels. The roller 60 and its companion (not shown) are supported in bearings upon the beams 36. The rollers tened to the beam 36.- These bars are united at their lower ends into bearings for the pulleys carried thereby. I

Adjusting means is provided on each of the bars 64 to aid in assembling theparts and which may be moved to compensate for wear. The ends of the rods 64 are screw-threaded, engaging in rojections on the part 65.

There is 0 course one set'of four rollers for each of the rims 56 and 57, and it is obvious that more ide-rollers. may be used,.'if desired; but I ave found that four is suflicient.

To each of the beams 36 is attached a projectin bracket 66,'the outer end of which is rovi ed with a bearing 67. This bearing is or the reception of. the shaft 68 of one of the side cutters. yThe lower end of this shaft is mounted upon a ball 6'3, located in the hearing 70,'the bearings 70' being. connected together by the arm 71.] The ball 69 is supported'in acup 72, and a perforated plate 73 revent dirt from entering.

is providedv to said .-bearing. 0 each ofthe shafts 68'is fastened a polygonal portion 74, which terminates in a tapered portion 75, which is adapted toproject through the art 73 and rest upon the ball 69. The sha t is rotated by a gear-wheel 76, which is splined thereto, and a set-screw (not shown) may-be used to secure said gear-wheel upon said-shaft.

.From the construction described it is obvious that the shaft- 68 and the parts attached thereto may be easily removed from the machine, which is done in case it is dcsired to'make a ditch with straight sides instead of with sloping sides. The bearings 70 are eachsupported by two rods 77 and78, fastened to the beanis 36. v The lower end of each 'ol' thc li( .arin; s-.70 is expanded out, as shown in Fig. 3, forming-ears 79, through which passvthc cn'ds ol'the rods 77 and 78.

Adjusting-nuts 80 are used to hold the bean ing in position upon the rods 77 and 78.

-74 are mounted a series of four spirally-arranged arms 81, although, of course, any number may be used that IS desired. The

outer end of each of these arms 81 is bent forward and terminates in a sharp edge. Braces 83 serve to secure the arms 81 together. sets of these arms, the larger set being at the top; but it is obvious that any number of sets might be used. Curved plates or scoops 84 are attached to the sets of arms 81 just behind the knives 82,'which are fastened to the outer ends of the arms 81.

It is obvious that by the arrangement shown, with the conical cutters and scoops, a ditch will be out having sloping sides, which, is, advantageous in case the dirt is of such a2 character that it is liable to cave in.

Each of the buckets 58 is open on the side next to .the rims of-the wheel, and to prevent the dirt carried by the buckets from being spilled into the interior of the wheel before t 1e proper timea curved stationary guard 85 18 provided, which is supported on the'I- beams 36.

Each of the wheel-rims 56 and'57 is rovided on the outer side with an annu ar p ate carrying gear-teeth 86, forming a rack. This plate is preferably made in curved sections, which are bolted onto the wheel-rims.'

In the bearings 87, secured to the I-beams 36, is mounted a shaft 88, which drivesthe ditching-wheel. This shaft 88 is driven by means of sprocket-chains passing over the s rocket-wheels 89 and 90. The shaft 88 is a so provided with gear-wheels 91 and 92 for driving the dirt-carrier, with sprocketwhcels 93 and 94 for driving the cutter-shafts 68 and with gear-wheels 95 and 96, which mesh withthe. teeth 86 on the rims 56 and 57. These'gear-wheels 91 and 92 may be fitted with ratchets, so that in backing the excavating-wheel or main ditching-wheel to loosen or remove some obstruction the dirtcarrier will remain "stationary. 97 and 98 represent sprocket-chains rinming from the sprocket wheels 93 and 94 to sprocketwheels 99 and1'00, located on the shaft 101, which is mounted in bearings 102 and 103, secured to the I-beams 36. F astened to the shaft 102 arebevel gcar-wheels 104 and 105, which mesh with the gear-wheels 76 on the shafts 68. Thus it is obvious that the rotationpf the shaft88 will cause the rotation of the ditehing-wheel, the movement. of the dirt-carrier, and the movement of the side cutters. 1

.Motion is imparted to the shaft 88 as follows: A sprocket-chain 106 passes over the sprocket-wheel 90, and a similar chain 107 passes over the sprocket-wheel 89. These sprocket-chains pass over gear-wheels on the s In the drawings I have shown three raft 108, one of'these gear-wheels being shown at 109 in Fig. 1. The shaft 108 is lccated in bearings fastened to the front of the beams 35. This shaft carries the large sprocket-wheel 110,Which by n'zeans of the sprocket-chain .111 is connected to the sprocketwheel 24- on the shaft 19, which shaft is directly operated by the piston of the engine, when by means of the clutch-hubs 21 and 22 the sprocket-wheel 24 is operated. It is obvious that motion will be transmitted through the chain 111 and the sprocket- .wheel to .the shaft 108, which in turn, by

means of the sprocket-chants 106 and 107,

operates the shaft-88, therebyoperating the d1tchingwheel, the dirt-carrying. apron, and the side cutters. When thus geared up, the

engine will drive the ditching-wheel when the machine is stationary. is desirable to move the machine forward while the ditching-wheel is running, and for this purpose I em by another gear-shaft 112, which is secure in bearings on'the front Usually, however, it

of, .the beams 35.- This shaft carries a sprocket-wheel 113','.over which passes a sorocket-chain 114, :which sprocket-chain so "passes over a gear-wheel 115 'on the shaft 26,. this shaft being rovided'with a gear-wheel '25,. meshing wit as alreadydescribed.

The shaft 112'is ro'vided with a large gear-wheel 116, whic meshes with a small gear-wheel on the shaft 108 so that the shafts the pini0n 20,

108 and 112. are always inconstantcommun'i- I cation. Thesprocket-wheelf1-13 is loosely mounted upon the shaftv 112, and is provided with a clutch-hub 118.1IA similar slidable" clutch-hub 119 is also provided on the shaft 1 12, to which it is 'splined- This clutch-hub may'be moved into-engagement with the clutch-hub 118 by hana or by an ordinary shifting-lever. When these two clutchhubs are in engagement with each other, themovement of the shaft 108 will also cause the movement of the shaft 26 and drive the whole machine forward.

When the parts are adjusted .as shown in Fig. 2 and the engine is started, the machine will move forward without operating the ditchin -wheel. As soon as the 'clutclrhubs 118 an 119 are brought into engagement the ditching-wheel will begin to. operate, while the machine isat the same time moved forward. If for any reason it is desired to operate the ditching-wheel without moving the machine forward, the )inion '20 is moved along the shaft 19 until the clutch-hubs 21 and 23 are in engagement 'with each other, when, as

before described, the movemcntof the ehginef will operate tl1e ditching-wheel. 11',

while the ditching-wheel is operated the hubs 118 and 119 are moved into engagement the machine will at the-same time be moved forward, while the ditching-wheel still continues its operation.

As the dirt is brought up by the buckets it material, and each is carried upon a shaftv provided with a polygonal central ortion 123, and caps 124 are secured at t e ends by I 5 screws 125 or other suitable means.

It may sometimes be foundnecessary in some conditions of soils to provide scrapers for the end rollers 1-22 and 121 to prevent the accumulation of sticky earth on said rollers. 20 It may also be advantageoustosubstitute sprocket-wheels for the rollers 122 121, two on each shaft, and with a plain pulley or .roller of from two to threeinch face in the center of the shaft and between the sprockets sprocket-chains will be used, one on each side of the apron'or conveyer-belt 120, this belt being over the sprocket-chains and attached 7 the'shaftpassed" throli h a bearing 145 in thereto by means of attachment-links.

Intermediate of the end rollers the, con- 3 v veyer passes over a series of concave rollers 126, the result being that the conveyer as it' pass-es over the rollers 126 will assume a form lowest in the center, thereby preventing 3 5 the dirt from spilling off; but when said conveyer passes over the end rollers 122 the dirtwill of course be thrown off toward both ends of said roller.

The conveyer is carried on a supporting- .frame composed of sidebars 127, each of which bars on theinsid'e is'provided with j ridges 128, between which rid es the rollers 126 are mounted, as shown: in' ig. 11. Each of the rollers" 126 is carried in a cylindrical bearing 129 at each end, which bearing is made integral with the rectangular plate 130, A attached to the side bar 127 by bolts or screws 131. Underneath the frame downwardly proj ect two arms 132, which carry a transverse 5o idler-roller 133 for supporting the lower side of the conveyer-apron. On the ends of the bars 127 are carried the curved arms l32 and 133; in the ends of which the rollers 121 and 122 5 5 these arms is provided with a plurality slots 134 and 135, through which loosely pa',"

bolts 136 and 137, upon'which said arms 'ii ay slide for the purpose of tightening or looser;-

ing the conveyerapron. e

projection 138,through which passes unadusting-screw130,1connectmi toqonc of the arms 1.33. A s1milar'construetlem'for adjnsting each of the inner arms 132 ma be used, if desired.

through the means-just described rotatb fthe wheels before mentioned. In thiscase two respectively, are mounted. Each of- Each of the bars 127 is provided a The conveyer-apron isdriven, as shown in Fig. 9, from the beveled gear-wheel 92, which meshes with a similar beveled gear-wheel 140, which is mounted on. a shaft 141, passing through bearings 142 in the side bars 127 and 7q' through bearings 151, mounted on the up per face of one of the I-beams 36. The shaft 141 is provided with a sprocket-wheel, and a sprocket-chain 1'43 passes over this wheel and a similar wheel mounted on one end of Z 5 the shaft carrying the roller 12. 2.- It is obv wious, therefore, that the rotation of the shaft 88, which carries the gear-wheel 92%111 roller 122 and move the c onveyer-apron.

It often happens that it is desirable to discharge the dirt on more than one'side of the ditch, and for this purpose the conveyer apron is mounted so that it can be shifted :of the machine and. the shaft 141 s passed go through a bearing 144 on on'eof the earns 36 through the bearings 142. The gearwheel 140 is then slipped on' the shaft and proximity to, the bevele gear-wheel 91, with -which the beveled gear-wheel 140 will then -justably supported by means of Ia rope or wire 147, which engagessaid bail 146. The

rope orwire 147 passes over'a pulley 148, carried on the end of a project bar 149,

which is attached to one of the. cams 35.

The re e or wire 147runs1over the shaft of an adjustmgwheel 150, Fig. 2, whichis provided 1.1

with a hand-wheel and pawl'for winding or unwinding said r0 e' and securing. it any desired position. he whiding. or an ding of the, rope 147 will of courserals'e or ower' the outer end; of the conveyer.. structure 1;;5

aroundthe shaft 141 asa pivot. q Whilel hav e thus descri ed. myinvdr tion,

.I wish it to beiilistinctly understood that 1 do not limit. myself: to the exact detailsshown v and described, as. these might be vari ofin invention; but p v V t I laim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, 1 s 4 I I I i v i 1. In a ditching-mac]une, thecombmatlon 25 of a supper ting-frame an open centerditqh y con '1 2osidea'ably without departing from the spir t;

means for adjusting the outer end of said 8. Inaditching-machine, the combination conveyor up or down and means'whereby of an open-center ditchin -wheel, an adjustsaid. conveyor may be shifted from one side of able support therefor, sai support includi said wheel to the other, substantially as de-. two parallel bars, duplicate bearings on so id scribed. bars, a driving-shaft mounted on one set of In a ditching-machine, the combination said bearings, an endless conveyer mounted of a Supporting-frame, a frame ad justabl'y on said driving-shaft on which said conveyor mounted in said supporting-frame, an openis pivoted, means for adjusting the outer end center ditching-wheel mounted in said adof said conveyer upwardl j and downwardly, justahle frame, a dirt-convoycr also sup: said conveyor being capa 1c of being shifted ported bv said adjustable frame and extendfrom one side of said ditching-wheel to the ing into the center of said wheel, a drivingother side thereof, and conical cutters carried shaft for said conveyer, which shaft also acts by said adjustable support, substantially as as a pivot for said conveyor, means for addescribed.

justing the outer end of said conveyer, means 9. In a ditchingmaohine, the combination 8o whereby said conveyor may be shifted from of a supportin frsme provided with upright one side of said wheel to the other and means beams grooved on the-inside,-an open center for driving said ditchin -wheel and said conditching wheel, an adjustable supportingveyer. substantially as described. frame therefor provided with projections 3. In a ditching-machine, the combination adapted to engage in said grooves, said ditch of a supporting-frame, asecond frame adjusting-wheel, being composed of two parallel ably mounted on said supporting-frame, and unitedtogether bybuckets, supportingincluding two parallel arms, an open-center" braces rovided with ulleys-icarried on said ditching-wheel carried by said adjustable 'adjusta le frame, sai pulleys en a l the frame, duplicate sets of bearings mounted on inside of said rims, whereby sai (Elidhing- 0 said parallel arms, a. shaft passing through wheel is reyolu bly; sup orted between the one set of said bearings, anda dirt-conveyor side barsof -said adjusta le.-frame, and sepapivoted on said shaft and extending into the rate side cuttersalsomounted on'said-adjustopen center of said wheel, whereby said conable frame', substantiallyas described; veyer may be shifted from one side of said 1 0. '-a ditohing''maoliine the combinawheel to the other side thereof, and means for tion of, a main frame,; ;j.;an, adjustable frame adjusting the outer end of said conveyor, subcarried thereby,*-;an J'o'p'en-center ditchingstantially asdeseribed. wheel supported'by-saidframe, said ditching- 4. In a ditching-machine, the combination 'wheel being composed .of -vtwo parallel rims, of an open-center ditching-wheel, sup orts buckets unit' "said Tim, wheel-cutters therefor, and side cutters carried by said supmounted just a sad of-said buckets, conical ports, whereby the ditch is cut wider at its side cutters also mounted p'n said adjustable sides than the width of said ditching-wheel, frame, andmeans for drivmg saidwheel and substantially as described. said conical cutterspsubstantially as deln aditching-machine, the combination scribed I I v of an open-center ditchingwheel, an adjust- 11. In a ditching-machine, the oombinaable support therefor, conical cutters also tion of a snip citing-frame, an adjustable carried on said support, and means for driving frame carrie' y said supporting-frame, an sa d ditehing-wlwcl and said cutters, \vhereopen-center ditching-whee carried'by said 7 by a (Hill with sloping sides is produced by supporting-frame, means-for adjusting said 1'0 the opt-Ellen of the machine, substantially adjustable frame u and down,'conical side dcscri hcu. cutters also carried y saidadjustable frame,

6 In a ditchbig-machine, the combination and a dirt-conve or carried by said adjustof an open-center ditchin -wheel provided able frame, said irt-conve *erbein capable with curved buckets, an ar justahle su port of being shifted-from one si e. of sai wheel to therefor, conical cutters carried by supthe other, substantially as described:

.port, and means for revolving said ditching- 12. In a ditching-machine, the combinawhoel and driving said cutters, whereby a tion of a ditching-wheel, an adjustable supditch with a rounded bottom and sloping portmgl'rame therefor, and means ion adsides is prmluced,substantially as described. justing said frame, said frame being rectanno 7. li: a ilitching-machine, the combination ular in its general outline and provided w ith of on oponwenter (lit-cliing\vheol, an adjustearings for supporting the means fOIIfilllVlllQ able support therefor, conical cutters carried said wheel, bearings forithe reception of a i= said support. an endless convcyerprojectpivot for a conveyor, outwardly-extending log into the open center of said ditchingbrackets for the su port of side cutters and win-cl, and means for revolving said ditchingdownwardly-lextenr ing brackets provided wheel and driving said cutters and conveyor, with bearings for the support of means or fillbiflby a din-h with sloping sides and driving, the said side cutters, substantially as" rounded bottom is 'iroduced and the dirt cardescribed.

tied away, substantially as described. 13, In a ditching-machine, an adjustableigo frame for the su port of the ditching-wheel,

beams for the reception of the side cutters and a downwardly-extendingbracket pr- 5 i end of the cutters, downwardly-extending vided with a bearin on each'of said I-beams for the reception of driving means for said outters, substantially as described.

14. In a ditching-machine, an adjustable frame for supporting the ditching-wheel, dirtconveyer, and side cutters, said frame being. rectangular in outline and being composedof two side I-beams united together, said I- bea'ms being each provided atone end with a projection, two bearings mounted on top of each I-beam for the reception of a 'pivotfor the dirt-conveyer, side brackets, one attached to each I-beain for the reception of the upper brackets, each provided with a hearing attached t o.said I-beams respectively, downwardly-extending braces attached to each .of

said I-beams, a common support attached to each of said braces, hearings in said common sup ort for the reception ofthe lower ends of t e cutters, and braces attached to said I-. beams car ing pulleys for the support of the ditching-w eel, substantially as escribed.

15. In-a ditching-machine, the combination of a main frame, a supporting-frame for the ditching-wheel adjustably mounted on said mainframqsaid adjustable frame being provided with means for supporting the ditching-wheel, the dirt-conveyer, and the side cutters, a conveyor pivotally mounted on for driving said ditching-wheel, and suitable connections whereby said driving means also operates said conveyor and said conical cutters, substantially as described.

l6. In a ditching-machine, the 'combination of an open-center ditching-wheel, an adjustable frame supporting the'sarne, a conveyer pivotally mounted on said supporting; frame, conical cutters also mounted on said supporting-frame, means for driving said ditching-wheel, and connections whereby said means also drives said conveyer and said cutters, means for operating said ditchingwheel, means for moving said machine forward, and adjustable connections whereby said ditching wheel may be operated and the machine moved forward together, or whereby either may be operated separately, substantially as described. v

17. In a ditching-machine, aside cutter therefor, including a central shaft, sets of bent arms of varying length secured to said shaft, and knives mounted on the ends of said arms, substantially as described.

18. In a ditching-machine, a side cutter therefor,. consisting of a central shaft, a rec tangular portion mounted on said shaft,-sets of bent arms of varying length secured to said rectangular portion, braces between the arms ofeac set, cutting-knives mounted on the ends of said arms, and curved scoops carried by said arms, substantially as described.

In' testimony whereofl aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES JACKSON VAN BUREN. Witnesses:

JNo. SHERIDAN,-

W. M. VAN ,BUREN. 

